Anna Lee

Non-Stop New York is a non-stop delight for classic film lovers, and especially those who like “B” productions. This one is so stylish, so fun and entertaining, that if Hitchcock’s name were attached to it, it would surely be ranked with the best films from his British period.

Robert Stevenson directed this little British gem from 1937 with quick pacing and much humor — not to mention a dash of style and romance. Anna Lee is simply wonderful as a charming girl who is finding it tough show more going. She is befriended by an honest attorney who has found himself among criminals and wishes to make a clean break.

John Loder winningly plays a policeman who doesn’t at first believe Lee when she turns to him in order to save the man accused of murder. She has reason to know the convicted man is innocent, however, and has seen his killers.

Francis L Sullivan, Frank Cellier, Desmond Tester, Athene Seyler, William Dewhurst and Drusilla Wills all offer fine support in this adaptation of a book by Ken Attiwill called Sky Steward. The second half of the film takes place on a transatlantic flight aboard the dandiest and most luxurious sea plane you’re ever likely to see on-screen, much less in a British “B” film.

A humorous crook trying to blackmail the killer, a mischievous pre-teen violin prodigy who only wants to play the sax and a parachute all play a part in a truly exciting ending at least equaling if not topping any of Hitchcock’s during this period of British cinema. A delightful little find for “B” movie fans. show less

This is a well-written autobiography of actress Anna Lee. Most may remember her from her 25 year stint on General Hospital as Lila Quartermaine. Classic film fans will remember her from many John Ford films including one of her best roles, as Bronwyn in How Green Was My Valley. Lee’s writing is very descriptive and you feel like you are there sharing the experiences with her. While the book’s sub-title has General Hospital in it, thankfully she does not dwell on this. She begins with her show more childhood as a minister’s daughter in England and we hear about her early stage experiences, her three marriages – including her disasterous second marriage, her WWII USO tours, and all of her film and television experiences, including her time on General Hospital. Most heart-breaking is her struggle to continue working as she faces financial difficulties and her health declines. Anna Lee never quits no matter what hardship she faces. Her story is an inspiration to anyone who has faced a bad marriage, financial hardship, loss of home, loss of a son, and so much more. The book is filled with Lee’s memories as well as reminiscences by those who worked with her. This book is one of the better autobiographies I have read and great for anyone interested in reading about how an actress can maintain her dignity and work in her craft, up until the end. show less

Kasen is wheelchair bound and he never expects someone to every see him as just a person anymore. Ryan is getting over his own loss but he is such a special guy. I love how its not about the able guy being the caretaker but about the two men really forming a partnership where they share the responsibility of caring for each other.

Reading this book, sometime I had the feeling the author would have liked to write a full historical novel, but she opted for a fantasy to allow her characters to “live”. This is because, aside for a paranormal element, as big as it’s, the presence of dragons, the rest of the novel is pretty much a classical medieval novel, with intrigues and adventures, to a level that, if not for the sex, I had almost the impression this was a young adult novel. Much to this point was the young age show more of the two main character, just 19 years old and struggling with the duty of being adult but still with the innocence and naiveté of young men.

Tomas is the heir to a throne, Griffin is his best man and knight in shining armor; sometime it was endearing to see these blossoms of men trying to behave as adults, since, truth be told, they have not yet experimented enough to be considered as such. Moreover, they have just found the courage to admit to each other their love, and suddenly that love has become something bigger, more important, almost too important for such young men.

As I said there is sex, and that is perhaps the only reason why this is not a young adult novel; if you remove the sex, and after all it’s not so much in the story, the rest of the novel is really like the old fashioned fantasy novels, with a quest for the young men and many occasions to display courage and noble feelings. Truth be told I didn’t feel as the sex was really important in the story, it worked well even without it. Or better, I appreciate the fact they did have the chance to express their love, but to me it was enough to know even without reading it; I had the strong feeling that was not the main target of the author that instead wanted to write about Tomas and Griffin’s journey towards adulthood. And as for all young men, that is an important journey, and so the story felt as a metaphor of that, didn’t matter they were two young men in a fantasy medieval setting, they could well relate to two teenagers of the XXI century.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1608207668/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less